Accumulator stranding machine with two sets of wheels



Aug. 13, 1968 D. HAARMANN 3,395,526

ACCUMULATOR STRANDING MACHINE WITH IWQ SETS OF WHEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

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INVENTOR.

Y Dierrich Haarmann B AT TORNEY Aug. 13, 1968 D. HAARMANN ACCUMULATOR STRANDING MACHINE WITH TWO SETS OF WHEELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.

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8 mmm mum United States Patent "ice 7 Claims. 61. 57-66) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A strand twisting machine of the accumulator type, with two sets of wheels in displaced relation to each other and arranged for synchronized rotation.

In known stranding machines, either the elements being stranded are drawn from a rotating supply means and the stranded product is wound on a take-up roller whose rotational axis is fixed in space; or the strand elements are drawn from a stationary, freely accessible supply means and the stranded product is wound on a reel by means of takeup and winding apparatus that rotates about the stranding apparatus. With such a reel the same rotates about its axis and also rotates in a plane at right angles to the stranding assembly.

With machines known as Yoke of Double-lay machines, one can, however, draw strands from fixed, freely accessible supply means and the axis of the takeup reel is fixed in space. However, such a reel is constantly encircled by the yoke and is therefore, not freely accessible; and further, the dimensions thereof are quite limited. All such machines have a common disadvantage in that, the revolving masses which are generally quite large, increase or decrease continuously during the stranding operation. Also, the supply of strand elements as well the stranded product are not freely accessible during the operation. Consequently, take-up speeds, rotational speeds and the lengths of stranded product that can be produced in one run depend on each other reciprocally and can be changed above a maximum value only in individual cases with time consuming interruptions in operations.

There have, however become known stranding machines where the strand elements are drawn from fixed, freely accessible supply means and where the stranded product with a given direction of stranding lay, is accumulated in a rotating accumulator device as it rotates. When the accumulator is filled, its direction of rotation is changed, the product therein is payed-oft and at the same time and with the same speed stranded product with an opposite direction of strand lay, is taken up.

With cables or cable rope produced in this manner, the direction of lay changes in fact at linear intervals that correspond to the storage capacity of the accumulator device and care must be taken that at the point where the lay changes direction, no kinking of the stranded elements occurs. Nevertheles with such machines it is possible to draw without halt, arbitrary lengths and, by limiting the capacity of the accumulator device with correspondingly small rotating constant masses, to achieve very high speeds of operation.

In such machines, termed accumulator-stranding machines, the accumulator device consists of an elongated cage or frame which rotates about an axis P allel to its longest edge. The device has sets of wheels, each consisting of one or more wheels closely spaced, which are located at the opposite ends thereof. Each set of wheels 3,396,526 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 rotate freely about an axis and their planes of rotation lie in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the frame.

In advance of the accumulator device is a nipple serving as a stranding point to which the strand elements are fed. After stranding, they enter the accumulator device and are fed, as by a set of pulleys, alternately on a wheel of the first set, then over a wheel of the second set, then again over a wheel of the first set, etc., until they pass from the last wheel of the second set to means located immediately adjacent the accumulator device for protecting the stranded elements from kinking at the point where the direction of lay changes. Such means can take the form of a belt spinner.

The known accumulator stranding machines exhibit two essential disadvantages. In one case, it can be seen that the spacing between the points of reversal of the direction of lay depends on the quantity of material taken up in the accumulator. As the accumulator of known machines consists of a frame or cage; the size of such frame corresponds necessarily to the largest possible spacing between points of reversal of the direction of lay. Further, such frame or cage represent considerable mass which has to be braked and again accelerated during reversal of direction of lay.

The present invention is directed to an accumulator stranding machine with two sets of wheels, wherein each set of wheels has its shaft mounted in a fork member that is pivoted in a journal that extends parallel to the direction of stranding. Further, both fork members are provided with a synchronous drive. Such a construction allows for a material reduction in the mass of the frame and the reversal of the direction of rotation of the machine is simplified.

In accordance with the invention, the journal bearings can be arranged at different spacings along the direction of the stranding. Thereby, it is possible to change the quantity contained within the accumulator within the limits of the permissible bearing spacings, without substantially increasing the mass of the machine. The increase in mass that occurs is determined only by the increase in mass of the accumulated material.

It is appropriate to arrange the journals for the bearings so that they can be displaced during operation and such displacement can be of an order somewhat greater than the maximum length of lay for which the operation is intended. Thus, the accumulator capacity can be adjusted to the number of lays whereby the accumulator capacity is exactly an integer multiple of the number of lays multiplied by the length of lay. This results in a suppresion of kinking or twisting of the stranded cable at the points where the direction of lay reverses. In such case, there is provided a worm gear drive, differential or planetary gearing for the displacement of the journals during operation.

The synchronous drive of the two fork members may be achieved by means of a single motor having an extended shaft formed with teeth on the periphery thereof extending parallel to the axis of the shaft. Each journal bearing is provided with a gear for meshing with the teeth on the motor shaft, to turn the fork members. Alternatively, each journal member may be provided with a separate motor; the motors being arranged to operate synchronously and may be synchronous motors. In this case, the synchronous operation of the motors can be adjusted and/ or monitored with suitable electronic switch gear.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the arrangement of fork members in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the driving mechanism therefor; and

FIG. 3 is a view showing the system of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of bearing standards 10, 11 are shown in displaced relation. Journals 12, 13 are mounted in standards 10, 11, journals 12, 13 carry forked members 14, 15 which in turn mount wheels 16, 17 respectively. The elements to be stranded, not shown are led over wheel sets 16, 17, in a manner known in the art and bores 18, 19 facilitate the entry and exit of the strands and stranded product. Pinion gears 29, 21 serve as means for rotating the forked members 14, 15. The pinion gears 20, 21 may be driven by separate motors or by a common motor drive.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, a motor 25 rotates an extended shaft 26 through reduction gearing 27, 28. A gear 29 fixed to one end portion of shaft 26, is adapted to mesh with the pinion gear of one set of wheels 16, 17, as for example pinion gear 20. The other end portion of shaft 26 is formed with axially extending gear teeth 30 adapted to mesh with pinion gear 21. Thus, wheel set 17 may be displaced relative to wheel set 16 with a selected spacing therebetween as indicated in FIG. 1. It is understood that with individual motor drives for the wheel sets 16, 17; the shaft 26 becomes unnecessary.

As indicated in FIG. 3, standard .10 carrying wheel set 16 may be stationary while standard 11 carrying wheel set 17 may be displaced with respect to standard by suitable means such as a rack and pinion mechanism generally indicated at 35. Here pinion gear 21A is adapted to slide on teeth 30 of shaft 26, allowing fork member to be rotated at selected displaced positions relative to fork member 14. An intermediate gear 22 meshes with gears 21A and gear 21. Similarily, an intermediate gear 33 meshes with gears and 29.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1.'In an accumulator stranding machine, apair of sets of wheels for sequentially passing strands therebetween, a fork member for mounting each set of wheels, means for rotatably mounting each fork member, and means for synchronously rotating said fork members.

2. In a machine as in claim 1, ,and further including means for adjustably displacing said fork members relative to each other.

3. In a machine as in claim 2, wherein said fork members are displaceable over a distance greater than maximum length of lay during the operation of said machine.

4. In a machine as in claim -2, wherein means for displacement of said fork members comprises gearing operatively connected to one of said fork members.

5. In a machine as in claim 1, wherein said rotating means comprises a single motor, an extended shaft on said motor, gear means for rotating each fork member, gear means on said shaft meshing with the gear means associated with one fork member; gear means slidably mounted on said shaft meshing with the gear means associated with the other fork member.

6. In a machine as in claim 1, separate motor means for rotating each fork member, said motor means being operated in synchronism.

7. In a machine as in claim 6, and including means for synchronizing the operation of said motor means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,182 8/1933 Boe 576 X-R 3,025,656 3/1962 Cook 57-34 3,052,079 9/1962 Henning 57-34 3,169,360 2/1965 COrrall et al. 5777.3 XR 3,283,494 11/1966 Lucht et al. 57166 XR FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

